A former Chirnside FC goalkeeper is swapping his keeper’s gloves for driving gloves to compete in the infamous Gumball Rally.

Jason Lugget will be joined on the event by friends Stevie Govan, Derek Rollo and Richard Govan. They will be getting behind the wheel of an old Ford Granada, which was destined for the scrapyard but has now had an incredible makeover, and cross six countries to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Jason, who lives in Norham, explained: “We are all into cars in a big way – that’s how we know each other. We’ve talked about doing something like this for years and after Derek’s mum, Katie Rollo, passed away, we were all at the funeral and that is when the rest of us decided to do it.”

Derek, from Dunbar, embraced the idea and now, one year after 55-year-old Katie, from East Linton, passed away from cancer, they are getting ready to hit the open road.

Jason, Derek and Richard, from Haddington, all work at Torness Power Station, while Steve, from Haddington, works with Redpath Tyres.

Derek, said: “This was an extremely difficult time for my family and her friends. The local Macmillan nurses were there for her throughout her battle and the care and attention she received from them was second to none, as was the support my family received during her long battle. My family will never forget what they did for my mum and are extremely grateful to them.”

The Gumball Rally was inspired by the film of the same name and started as a driving event across Europe in 1999. This year will see the quartet head through France, Germany (including a trip to the famous Nurburgring circuit), Switzerland, Belgium and Italy before finishing up in Spain ahead of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.

Jason said: “We set off on July 1 and we should get to Spain on July 7 – if all goes well! Every car has to have some sort of theme or be painted in some way. There was a car last year that had camouflage, like a tank, and the people inside were in army gear. That’s the spirit of the thing and we have done ours to look like an American police car.

Each will take turns driving the car but ahead of the big drive the group has raised more than £1,500. They are looking to add to the figure with a disco lined up on Saturday in Haddington Corn Exchange. A car pull is being lined up for East Fortune Racetrack on September 20, with money again going to Macmillan Cancer Support. On top of that, the quartet are looking for businesses to come forward and sponsor the vehicle.

Jason, added: “We’ve left the bonnet clear and are trying to get businesses to sponsor us.”

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